Second Wave of COVID-19 : Association of Resident Doctors Shutdown Would Disrupt Medical Services

Rabiu Omaku

The Chief Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia , Dr. Hassan Ikrama has described the lacuna surrounding the called by the Association of Resident Doctors to suspend clinical services as uncalled for

 

The CMD hinted this during a press briefing held at the NUJ Press centre at the weekend, Dr. Ikrama said the scaling down of services is not acceptable especially at this period of COVID-19.

 

He maintained that the full scaling down of services would led to the high rate of fatality.

 

“The demands of ARD was on shortage of Personal Protective Equipments, Is not true”,He debunked the claim

 

According to the CMD,” DASH under my leadership has embarked on staff training and retraining on COVID-19, While PPE’s were made available”.

 

He further stated that the PPE’s available would last for a period of six months , other non-consumables available are adequate face mask and face shield.

 

The Chief Medical Director who display some of the PPE’s buttressed that all the PPE’s in the hospital are world standard Personal Protection Equipments.

 

On the issue of staff, The CMD said drugs and feeding of staff is free while stipends are made available to boost their morale.

 

“We in Specialist or Nasarawa State paid hazard allowances for a period of six months before we opt out, while the Federal Government only pay for three months”.

 

Dr. Ikrama Hassan opined that the hospital has succeeded in decontaminating the hospital as well put in place Crowd Control Team as well as the establishment of State Emergency Centre

 

Other frantic effort,according to the CMD also includes the constitution of Infection Preventive Committee to battle Lassa ,Ebola now extended to COVID-19.

 

The Chairman Association of Resident Doctors could not be reached as at press time for comment.